Inversion of concentrated sucrose solutions in fixed beds of ion exchange resin

The inversion of concentrated sucrose solutions by fixed beds of ion exchange resin catalyst was studied. Experiments were run with solutions containing up to 45 wt. sucrose at temperatures near 60° C. The reaction may be carried out successfully under these conditions. However, it loses its apparent first-order character because of product degradation. Such degradation results in optically active products which may interfere with polarimeter determinations as well as in the formation of species which may cause fouling of the resin catalyst. No evidence of film mass transfer limitations was found for even the most concentrated feed solutions.